Directory



W. J. TOLAND.

DIRECTORY.

APPLICATION HLED 020.5, 1918.

Patented July 20, 1920.

3 //LL II/ V IIIIIM'III VIII Way/5w ATTO R N E Y view taken throng position,

UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

wmn JOHN Tommi), or DANNEMQRA, new You];

nmncrony.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 20 192() Application fl-Ied December 5, 1918. Serial No. 265,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARD 'J. 'IoLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dannemora, in the county. of Clinton and State'of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Directories, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to a directory, and more particularly to a device in which words or names may be printed on belts or strips which are moved across observation open: m s.

IDne of the main objects of the invention is to provide a directory of the character stated of simple construction and operation employing a plurality of independent units each provided with a strip or belt of material on one face of which may be inscribed suitable words, names or other symbols. A further object is to provide means for operating the endless strips or belts so as: to maintain the same at constant tension'when moved toward the observation. Another object is to provide simple and efficient means for holding the units of the directory in perative position so as to permitready removal thereof. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a; top plan viewof a directory constructed in accordance with my invention, l

Fig. 2 is a fra mentary detail. sectional one of the units of the directory and the contiguous parts of the casing, V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing one of the units in operative Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing fragmentarily one of the units and the means for securing the same in position. a

The box-like or rectangular casing 1 which may be formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material, is adapted to be supported by a suitable wooden base 2. This casing is provided, at its transverse center, with a longitudinally extending partition member 3 which extends the full length of the casing. In this manner, the interior of the casing is divided into two equal longitudinally extending compartments. The top 4 of the casing is provided with two longitudinally extending series of transversely extending spaced openings 5 which communicate with the respective compartments of the casing. A suitable closure member or panel 6 of glass or other suitable transparent material is supported closely adjacent the under face of top 4 of the casing at each. side of the partition member 3. In this manner, entry of dust or foreign material into the casing is prevented while the symbols marked on the belt of the indicating unit to be later described may be readily observed through the observation openin 5. Y

artition member 3 is provided on each lateral face with a plurality of spaced substantially U-shaped guide strips 7. These strips serve to provide vertically extending guide grooves which snugly receive the inner end plates 8 of the indicating units des ignated generally by 9. Each of the units 9 is provided with an inner plate 8, which is adapted to fit snugly between the guide members 7 and an outer end plate 10. These end plates are secured in parallel spaced relation by the spacing rods 11 secured thereto. The upper spacing rods are provided with sleeve rollers 12 loosely mounte'd thereon so asto form anti-friction bear- 7 ing members for a strip or belt 13 of fabric or other suitable material which is movable over the same. When the units are in position, they are so spaced that the horizontal run of the belt is positioned immediately below one'of the observation openings 5 so that the symbols which are marked on the outer face of the belt are thus rendered readily visible.

Belt 13 is wound on'a spool or roller 14 which is rotatably supported upon a shaft 15 in the end plates 9 and 10.- Roller 14 is in vertical alinement with a similar roller 16 rotatably supported, by means of a shaft 17 to which the roller is secured, in the end plates. 'The belt 13 after being wound upon roller 14 is passed over the sleeve rollers 12 and downwardly in front of roller 14 between the tworollers, being then Wound in the opposite direction upon roller 16.

To permit roller 14 to be turned from without the casing 1, shaft 15 projects beyond the outer end-plate 10 and the end portion of this shaft is squared, as at 20. This squared portion is adapted to fit snugly into a corresponding bore 21 provided in neck 22 of a thumb knob 23. The neck of this knob is adapted to be inserted through an accommodates the angularly bent portion .25 of a securing spring 26 which frictionallyr engages into a corresponding recess in the squared portion 20 of shaft 15 so as to frlc tionally secure the thumb knob 23 thereto. In this manner, after the unit has been placed inposition, the thumbknobs may be readily secured thereto for operating purposes. i- 1 r V In L Fig. 5 a conventional, compensating means is shown whereby the roller 1a is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 15 and is connected thereto by means of a compensating spring 30. This compensating spring 30 fits in-a pocket provided in the roller 14: adjacent the wheel 18. The spring 30 has one end attached to the shaft 15 by means of the pin 31 and its other end attached to i the 1501161 14.; By means of the compensating means'the difference 1n d ameter of the rolls will becompensated for by the'winding or unwinding the spring 30. In practice, as many of theseunits may be employed as described, each belt or strip containing the words which commence with a particular letter and being positioned beg neath' the observation opening 5 bearing the designationor letter'corresponding to the letter with which thewords onthe 'particu lar belt commence. vTo render the words or the symbols on'the various belts readily visible through the openings 5, the top of the casing is inclined and'the' units 9 are arranged in stepped order, as in Fig. 2. This permits the words of the units at the upper or top end of the casing to 'be-readily viewed through the observation .openings, as will be obvious. 7 adapted for use as a directory, each strip or belt containing the. names beginning with some particular letter, orit may be'used as a dictionary or'for similar purposes. 'The "s'mbols'or words which are )rinted u )on the belt may bereadily moved "across the observation opening, until the desiredname or word is exposed. This greatly facilitates findingof the particular word. or name desired and avoids the necessitating of turning a numberofpages in an attempt to locate a nameorword such. as is necessary j in using a. directory or dictionary-of ordinary construction. 7 l I r The foregoing descriptlonand the draw- This device is well ings have reference to what may be considrereddthepreferred, orapproved form ofinvention; It is to be understood that I may make' such changes in construction, and arrangement and combination of parts, ma-

terials,, dimensions, etc., asmayprove expedient and fall within the s'c'ope'of the appended claims,

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and secure by Letters Patent,is

1'. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination of a casing having guide strips therein, independent indicating units indesire to sertible in said casing and comprising plates connected rods, shafts carried by said, plates and having rollers thereon, sleeve rollers carriedby a plurality ofsaid rods,

a belt connected to'said rollers and passing around said sleeve, rollers, said plates being engaged by said strips for holding said 11111118 against accidental shifting although permitting the same to be removed from the casing when necessary, and means ins'ertible into said casing for engagement with said shafts" and'turning the same whereby said rollers may be rotated for moving said belt. 7

In a device of ,theclass described, the r combination of a casing-independent indi- 8-5 eating units'insertibleinto and removable from said casing, each includinga plurality ofrollershaving a belt connected -thereto,' shaftssupporting said rollers, said shafts having'squarcd'ends,vsaid casing having openings in the sides thereof, a neck having a squared bore atone end and-a knob at Y the opposite end th'ereof-insertible through i each opening, said necks engaging said shafts, said shafts having-recesses in their squared ends, springs fixed upon said necks and having angularly bent portions fitting within said recesses thus releasably connecting said necks tosaid' shafts, whereby when said knobs are turned, rotary motion will be imparted through said neckstosaid shafts although whenitis desired to removean indicating unitthe necks and knobs thereof may be moved from engagement with the shafts, whereby the indicating unit may be easily lifted from; the said casing. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceoftwo witnesses. v

WARD 1 J OI-IN ,TOLAND.

. Witnessesf I i' rJpE. SIGNOR, r

OLE. Downm. 7 

